Ballon d’Or Ceremony Celebrates Football Excellence in London
The historic 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or, a prestigious football awards ceremony organized by France Football, unfolded in London last night, marking the first occasion the event has taken place outside France or Switzerland.
The awards honor the world’s best male and female footballers, alongside various other achievements within the sport.
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The Johan Cruyff Trophy, awarded to both the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, was received by two Spanish coaches. Pere Romero led Barcelona’s women’s team to win the league title, Copa del Reina, Supercopa, and UEFA Champions League. Since joining in 2024, Romero boasts an impressive record of 91 wins, 3 draws, and just 5 losses across 99 matches, resulting in an astonishing win percentage of 91.92%.
On the men’s side, Luis de la Fuente earned the award after steering Spain to their second World Cup title in the United States. De la Fuente’s impressive accolades span from youth levels to the senior national team.
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Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Men’s Club of the Year award after winning the Champions League for the second consecutive year, along with securing the Ligue 1 title.
Barcelona also took home the Women’s Club of the Year honor, solidifying their status as a dominant team under Romero’s leadership.
The Sócrates Award, which acknowledges humanitarian contributions by footballers, was presented to Bukayo Saka for his initiatives with BigShoe, which provides medical assistance to children in urgent need. Saka delivered a poignant speech while sharing a letter from one of the children he assisted.
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Harry Kane won the Gerd Müller Trophy as the best striker in men’s football after achieving an impressive total of 73 goals in 2026. The women’s award in this category went to Charlyn Corral of Pachuca, who scored 49 goals.
The Yashin Trophy, recognizing the best goalkeeper for both men and women, is named after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d’Or. The women’s award went to Barcelona’s Cata Coll, while Unai Simón of Athletic Bilbao claimed the men’s award after his standout performances, including aiding Spain’s World Cup success.
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Finally, in a highly anticipated moment, betting sites with welcome bonus served as a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding contenders in the post-Messi and Ronaldo era. The Ballon d’Or Féminin was awarded to Alexia Putellas for the third time, marking her first win since recovering from a significant knee injury. After spending much of her career with Barcelona, she moved to London City Lionesses this summer.
In the men’s category, the key contenders were Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane. Ultimately, the award went to Harry Kane, who had an exceptional season with Bayern Munich and played a pivotal role in guiding England to the World Cup semi-finals. Kane’s achievement marks the first instance of an Englishman winning the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
